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Selectmen Nix Casey Pool Acquisition

by Kevin Rudden Staff Reporter/Columnist · March 31, 2010

Selectmen agreed this month to pass on the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)"s offer to turn the Senator P. Eugene Casey Memorial Pool on Prospect Street (Route 14) over to the town.

In doing so, they followed the recommendation made by Town Administrator Louis Celozzi, who said the town already has the indoor pool at Milford High School and the outdoor pool at Fino Field. "Once the economy improves, the Board may wish to reconsider the proposal but at this time I would rather expend our efforts and money on supporting our present services," Celozzi wrote in a memo to selectmen.

The town administrator evaluated the DCR's offer with a team consisting of Michael Bresciani, director of the Parks and Recreation Department; Len Morcone, director of the Milford Community School Use Program; and, Peter Filosa, the town's pool manager. "It was the consensus of the group that while the addition of the Casey State Pool might be attractive at some point forward, the time is not currently conducive to expending any additional funds for this facility," Celozzi's memo stated.

Budget numbers from the state show that it costs $88,153.43 to operate the Casey pool for the approximately eight weeks running from the third week in June through the third week in August, Celozzi said. "Although I am sure that the budget could be reduced and monies generated with the introduction of a fee structure, even a minimal cost to the town at this time would be unacceptable," he wrote.

The DCR still plans to spend $700,000 to renovate the Casey pool, Celozzi told selectmen at their March 15 meeting.

Although they took no formal vote, board members agreed with Celozzi's recommendation. "We did the research and the analysis and the due diligence. This is the way good decisions are done," Selectman Dino DeBartolomeis said. "I'm in complete agreement," added Selectman William Buckley, who noted that the $88,153.43 figure didn't include the "extraordinary costs" involved with running the pool – citing the $700,000 renovation as an example.

In other business, selectmen agreed with a recommendation by Community Development Director Susan Clark and unanimously awarded the Phase I contract for federally funded work at Prospect Heights to low-bidder Green Acres Landscape & and Construction Co., Inc. of Lakeville. The company's $268,100 bid was the lowest of 13 received to install new street drainage, sidewalks and curbing and repave the Prospect Heights roadway, Celozzi said.

"We look forward to seeing that work get started," Chairman Brian Murray said.

The chairman said that David Nunes – who is proposing to build the "Crossroads Resort" casino in Milford off Route I-495 between Routes 16 and 85 – wrote the board saying that his company, Ajax Gaming Ventures, LLC, will be preparing a comprehensive plan and a local impact report that addresses all concerns voiced by town boards and commissions about the project.